The grounds of St Mary's Church are home to a large closed churchyard and an open churchyard. The Open churchyard includes an area currently used for the burial of cremated remains.  St Mary's churchyards are Christian Churchyards and consecrated ground.  They are places of tranquility and solace; peaceful spaces for those who rest in them, visit them and bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones.  

Churchyards, cemeteries and green burial grounds each have their own sets of regulations of what is and is not permitted in their respective contexts. If you would like to know more about the churchyards: who can be buried in the churchyard, what is and isn't permitted in churchyards - please check out the attached policy and the faculty for the open churchyard, the policy and faculty are authorised by the Chancellor who governs everything that is permitted in churchyards.

The Chancellor Regulations can be accessed on the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham website: here is a link to take you to the relevant page: https://southwell.anglican.org/resources/church-buildings-and-churchyards/

The churchyards are owned by the Church of England. The Closed Churchyard is maintained by Newark and Sherwood District Council and the Open Churchyard is maintained and financed by St Mary's Church.